Tour de France: Mark Cavendish wins historic green jersey - BBC Sport BBC Sport Tour de France: Mark Cavendish wins historic green jersey 24 Jul 2011 Read more about sharing. Cavendish (right) has now won 20 stages of the Tour de France Mark Cavendish won the final stage of the Tour de France in Paris, becoming Britain's first winner of the green jersey for the race's best sprinter. Manxman Cavendish, who has now won 20 stages of the race in his career, crossed the line first after a frenetic sprint finish on the Champs-Elysees. "I've been trying to get the green jersey for the last few years, it is a special day," said the 26-year-old. Cadel Evans took the yellow jersey to become Australia's first Tour winner. The polka-dot jersey for the Tour's best climber went to Spain's Samuel Sanchez, while Frenchman Pierre Rolland was confirmed as the best young rider with the white jersey.

Welshman Geraint Thomas, who spent the first six days in white, finished 31st overall ensured him the honour of the top British rider in the general classification in his third Tour de France. Cavendish had amassed 15 stage wins over his previous three Tours, but his failure to take green before this year had been been one factor in the organisers' decision to increase the rewards on offer at the end of each stages.

Tour facts: Mark Cavendish 2007 - Makes his Tour debut and after crashing in the first two stages retires during stage eight 2008 - Becomes the first British rider to win four stages in a single Tour but abandons after stage 14 to concentrate on the Olympics 2009 - After failing to win a medal in Beijing wins six stages of the Tour 2010 - Wins five more stages and finishes second in the points classification 2011 - Becomes first British winner of the green jersey and moves onto 20 stage wins with five more victories The Isle of Man cyclist finished with 334 points, while Spaniard Jose Joaquin Rojas was second with 272 and Belgian Philippe Gilbert had 236. However, despite the relatively comfortable final margin of victory Cavendish was not assured of securing the green jersey until he won the final sprint. If Rojas had won the stage then Cavendish would have needed to finish second or third to claim the jersey he so highly coveted.

"I've been incredibly lucky to have a group of team-mates who have been committed to me winning races and it has paid off," said the HTC Highroad cyclist. "I can't stress how lucky I am, I couldn't do it alone. I'm super emotional, super happy." Evans had assumed the lead in the overall standings from Leopard-Trek's Andy Schleck in Saturday's time trial and a flat 95km stage into Paris did not offer any opportunities to attack his advantage of one minute 34 seconds. Cavendish had a less comfortable cushion in the green-jersey standings with 15 points separating him from Rojas at the start of the final day. Any hopes Rojas harboured of making early inroads on his rival were ruined however, as Slovenian Kristjan Koren led an unexpected six-man breakaway through the intermediate sprint to earn 20 points. Cavendish was the first of the peloton over the line while team-mate Matt Goss held off Rojas to extend the Manxman's lead to 17 points. With Team Sky's British rider Ben Swift playing a full role, the escapees pushed their lead up towards 45 seconds.

But the leading group disintegrated as Lars Bak, an HTC team-mate of Cavendish, pushed the pace, having previously been content to trail along on the back of the group. Analysis Twenty Tour de France stage wins, five this year, three in a row in Paris and now, finally, one box-fresh green jersey: it's official, Mark Cavendish is the fastest sprinter on two wheels. He is also a massive star. In France. True fame has yet to come in the UK (with the honorable exception of his birthplace, the Isle of Man), but if he keeps pulling stunts like this one it will come eventually. With 30km to go on the Champs- Elysees, Cav was by the side of the road, changing his bike. As cool as a cucumber. Half an hour later, he was rolling through the line, arms outstretched, grinning from ear to ear. British rider David Millar has just told me Cavendish is Britain's greatest current sportsman. Hard to disagree on a day like this The peloton mopped up the breakaway with two kilometres to go, just as the HTC Highroad team fell into formation behind.

A well-drilled procession followed with Cavendish breaking off the wheel of Australian lead-out Mark Renshaw with 170m to the finish. Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen came closest to overhauling Cavendish, but could not close to within less than a bike length. Andre Griepel, Tyler Farrar and Fabian Cancellara completed the top five, with Rojas a distant 21st. Cavendish's stage win followed successes on the Champs-Elysees in 2009 and 2010 , making him first man to have won three final stages in succession since the legendary Belgian Eddy Merckx in 1972. Evans, 34, finished 56th, well within the 150-strong group who clocked the same time behind Cavendish, to confirm himself as the oldest overall winner since the Second World War. He is the first winner to wear the yellow jersey for only the last stage of the race since Greg LeMond's success in 1990.

STAGE 21 STANDINGS: 1 Mark Cavendish (GB/HTC-Highroad) 2hrs 27mins 02secs, 2 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor/Sky Procycling) at same time 3 Andre Greipel (Ger/Omega Pharma-Lotto) 4 Tyler Farrar (U.S./Team Garmin-Cervelo) 5 Fabian Cancellara (Swi/Leopard Trek) 6 Daniel Oss (Ita/Liquigas-Cannondale) 8 Tomas Vaitkus (Lit Pro Team Astana) 9 Gerald Ciolek (Ger/Quickstep Cycling Team) 10 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra/Saur - Sojasun) OVERALL STANDINGS: 1 Cadel Evans (Aus/BMC) 86hrs 12mins 22secs 2 Andy Schleck (Lux/Leopard Trek) at 1min 34secs 3 Frank Schleck (Lux/Leopard Trek) at 2.30 4 Thomas Voeckler (Fra/Team Europcar) at 3.20 5 Alberto Contador (Spa/Saxo

 Bank Sungard) at 3.57 6 Samuel Sanchez (Spa/Euskaltel-Euskadi) at 4.55 7 Damiano Cunego (Ita/Lampre) at 6.05 8 Ivan Basso (Ita/Liquigas) at 7.23 9 Thomas Danielson (U.S./Garmin-Cervelo) at 8.15 10 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra/AG2R) at 10.11 Selected others: 31 Geraint Thomas (GB/Sky) at 1:00:48 76 David Millar (GB/Garmin-Cervelo) at 2:14.56 130 Mark Cavendish (GB/HTC-Highroad) at 3:15.05 137 Ben Swift (GB/Sky) at 3:18.07 OVERALL SPRINT STANDINGS: 1 Mark Cavendish (GB/HTC-Highroad) 334 points 2 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa/Movistar) 272 

3 Philippe Gilbert (Bel/Omega Pharma-Lotto) 236 4 Cadel Evans (Aus/BMC) 208 5 Thor Hushovd (Nor/Garmin-Cervelo) 195 6 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor/Sky) 192 7 Andre Greipel (Ger/Omega Pharma-Lotto) 160 8 Tyler Farrar (U.S./Garmin-Cervelo) 127 9 Samuel Sanchez (Spa/Euskaltel-Euskadi) 105 10 Alberto Contador (Spa/Saxo Bank) 105 OVERALL BEST YOUNG RIDER STANDINGS: 1 Pierre Rolland (Fra/Europcar) 86hrs 23mins 05secs 2 Rein Taaramae (Est/Cofidis) at 0:46 3 Jerome Coppel (Fra/Saur - Sojasun) at 7:53 4 Arnold Jeannesson (Fra/FDJ) at 10:37 5 Rob Ruijgh (Ned/Vacansoleil) at 22:21

 6 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col/Sky) at 32:05 7 Geraint Thomas (GB/Sky) at 50:05 8 Robert Gesink (Ned/Rabobank) at 54:26 9 Cyril Gautier (Fra /Europcar) at 1:17:00 10 Andrey Zeits (Kaz/Astana) at 1:21:05 OVERALL MOUNTAINS CLASSIFICATIONS: 1 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa/Euskaltel) 108 points 2 Andy Schleck (Lux/Leopard Trek) 98 3 Jelle Vanendert (Bel/Omega Pharma-Lotto) 74 4 Cadel Evans (Aus/BMC) 58 5 Frank Schleck (Lux/Leopard Trek) 56 6 Alberto Contador (Spa/Saxo Bank) 51 7 Jeremy Roy (Fra/FDJ) 45 8 Pierre Rolland (Fra/Europcar) 44 9 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz/Astana) 40 10 Johnny Hoogerland (N

ed/Vacansoleil-DCM) 40 Share this page Cycling history Cycling history The return of ‘The Silent Ones’ The Isle of Man CC is the intellectual property of Greenrock Ltd Top image: Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man) Cycle Club late 19th / early 20th century (© MNH) With huge thanks to Katie King of Manx National Heritage for all the information and images on this page, which are taken from the exhibition ‘Our Sporting Life’ at the Manx Museum, Kingwood Grove, Douglas.

Cycling and the Isle of Man have a history, from the annual Bicycle & Athletic Festivals of the nineteenth century to the excitement of Manx International Cycle Week. The Island’s first Commonwealth Games team contained six cyclists, with a Bronze medal being won by cyclist Stuart Slack. The Island has since gone on to win two further Gold medals in the Commonwealth Games with Peter Buckley in 1966 and Mark Cavendish in 2006, and our cyclists make up a good portion of the Isle of Man team at every Commonwealth Games and also dominates the Island Games. The Beijing 2008 Olympics saw two Manx cyclists competing for Team GB and we have high hopes for Manx success at the London 2012 Olympics. The Isle of Man has been producing talented cyclists since the 1950s, competing on the British, European and world stage with Millie Robinson, Ron Killey, Reg Quayle, Mike O’Hare, Peter Kennaugh Snr, Steve Joughin, Mike Doyle and Marie Purvis being just a few well known names. The success of these individuals has inspired consecutive generations of young sports men and women to follow in their wheeltracks.

The Isle of Man today is punching well above its weight in terms of cycling talent. The question asked by many sport commentators is how a population of just 80,000 can produce so many world class cyclists? The successes of Mark Cavendish, Jonny Bellis, Peter Kennaugh and the many more talented youngsters ready to follow in their wheel tracks is nothing short of remarkable. So great is the Isle of Man’s reputation for cycling that two of the UK’s top cyclists, Rob Holden and Ben Swift, have even moved to live here! So, what is it about the Isle of Man? Is it our roads, our history, our passion, our development scheme – or does success breed success? Mark Cavendish – The Manx Missile Mark Cavendish MBE, the Manx Missile, is a professional racing cyclist, heralded as the fastest man on two legs. Achieving 11 wins in his first professional road race season, his was the most successful debut in European road racing history. Mark won the points jersey in five major races, and most impressively of all, beat some of the established legends of road sprinting.

In the 2008 Tour de France he won four stages, a then unprecedented achievement for a British cyclist. He now has 20 Tour de France stage wins under his belt and in 2011 made history by becoming the first British rider to win the Tour’s prestigious maillot vert, the green points jersey. ‘Cav’, as he is universally known, started cycling for fun at the National Sports Centre and developed his skills on the challenging Manx roads. His prodigious talent was noticed and he was admitted onto the British Olympic Academy programme. Together with his achievements on the road, Mark is also a double Madison World Champion, won a Gold medal for the Isle of Man at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne 2006 and competed for Team GB in the Beijing Olympics 2008. His phenomenal success on the professional road racing circuit has inspired many hundreds of the Island’s young people to take up the sport. Mark continues to dominate the road racing circuit and has won stages at all the major classics, including winning the Milan-San Remo. He has been described as the fastest sprinter in the world.

Now riding for Team Sky Mark is looking forward to achieving more success on the road and has his eyes set on the London 2012 Olympic road race. Isle of Man Youth Development – The Conveyor Belt of Inspiration “What kept me going was that I wanted to do what Steve Joughin was doing, winning Merseyside titles and National titles – it was like a conveyor belt of inspiration – as it is today with Mark Cavendish.” Mike Doyle, Former Pro Rider and Isle of Man Cycling Youth Coach Former professional rider Mike Doyle has played a pivotal role in coaching the Island’s young riders in recent years as they seek selection for the Great Britain Olympic Development programme. For most talented riders in Britain the Academy is still the best route to a career as a professional cyclist. Mike has been able to share his experiences of the professional road race circuit with the youth talent on the Isle of Man, so that they realise what it takes to commit to cycling. It is this firsthand experience that is so crucial to the success of Manx cyclists. The role of the Isle of Man Sport Aid and Institute is also critical at this stage in allowing elite competitors to secure financial support together with a full range of sports science services for them to fulfil their sporting potential.

Cycling in the Blood – the Kennaugh Family For many people on the Isle of Man cycling is not simply an individual passion, but can be traced through consecutive generations of families committed to the sport. One such family is the Kennaughs. Both Peter Kennaugh, and his younger brother Tim, are current professional road and track cyclists with 2012 Olympic aspirations. Their father Peter was also a successful road racer, their mother Jackie a talented cyclist, and their grandparents Roy and Dorothy were early members of the Manx Road Club. Their cycling pedigree can even be traced to their great great great grandfather and uncle who were also influential on the Manx cycling scene – a case of cycling really being in the blood! “We didn’t encourage them into cycling at all. I knew how expensive it was to do and how hard it was…cycling is such a tough sport. Some have likened it to four Man United games being played back to back for three weeks and that’s what riding the Tour de France is like. It is tough, really tough…we told them to stick to the football!

But we support them, of course.” Peter Kennaugh Senior, 2011 Peter Kennaugh “I have lost count of the number of times I have seen Peter Kennaugh piling up the miles. In the winter, when it was raining so hard it was bouncing off the road, he was out there. That’s what it took for him to become a pro rider.” Richard Allen, Sports Journalist Peter Kennaugh Junior is currently one of the rising stars of British cycling, on both track and road. He has been riding for British professional Team Sky since 2010. He has received worldwide plaudits for his 2011 season with outstanding performances at his first Giro d’Italia. His ‘all round’ talent has him tipped for Tour de France glory in the future. He is the current British Madison Champion; British Under 23 National Road Race Champion; Junior World and European Track Champion; is a member of the British Cycling Olympic Academy and is one of the Island’s 2012 Olympic hopefuls. Tim Kennaugh “It’s all about balance and doing it because you want to do it and because you enjoy it.

If your Mum and Dad are paying for you to go away and train and race, then you’ve got to show a certain amount of commitment to put the yards in.” Tim Kennaugh At only 20 years of age Tim Kennaugh has already made a name for himself in British cycling, being selected to ride for the British Talent Team in 2007 before entering the British Cycling Olympic Development Programme and Olympic Academy. In 2009, he became one of the youngest riders ever to win the Manx National Road Race Championships. In 2011 Tim signed for Italian/Polish Team MG.K VIS-Norda Whistle along with fellow Manxman Chris Whorrall. In his first professional season Tim is expected to compete in 50 races, including the Baby Giro d’Italia, thereby following in his brother’s footsteps. Ian Sharpe – Paralympian Visually impaired athlete, Ian Sharpe, is the Isle of Man’s most successful Olympian. He has represented Great Britain at the Paralympics on five separate occasions, initially as a swimmer, and more recently as a cyclist.

He has won five Silver and five Bronze medals at the Games to date and is hoping to increase his tally in the London Paralympics 2012. Ian began training seriously as a swimmer at the age of twelve when he joined the national development programme. After achieving success at European and World Championship level he was selected to represent Great Britain at the Seoul Paralympics 1988, where he won a Silver and two Bronze medals, and became the first British disabled athlete to break the one minute barrier for the 100m freestyle. Further Silvers were to follow in the next three Paralympics in Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney in 2000. Ian retired from swimming after the Atlanta Games to focus on his career but decided to have a go at the triathlon while working in Cambridge. Ian unofficially set the second fastest time in the world for a disabled athlete in the Olympic distance event in 1998 with his guide, Toby King. But following the decision not to include the triathlon at the Paralympics in 2000, Ian returned to swimming once again for the Sydney games which became his most successful ever, bringing back two Silver medals and a Bronze.

In 2003 Ian then made the switch to cycling when he met Paul Hunter while looking for a potential tandem pilot. Despite many logistical challenges, funding problems and disagreements with British Cycling they qualified for the Athens Paralympics in 2004 and achieved the remarkable feat of winning a Bronze medal in the Men’s Individual Tandem Pursuit and another in the Men's Tandem Kilo at their first Games together. Even greater success followed in 2005 when Ian and Paul became double world champions in the same events and also picked up a Silver in the road time trial. Ian is currently training hard and looking for sponsorship to support him in the run up to the London 2012 Paralympic Games. “I would love to do London 2012 – if the games had been anywhere else I think I would have retired by now, I’ve spent most of my life competing at the highest level and I'm not getting any younger. But the only medal I haven't won is a Paralympic Gold and to have the opportunity to compete, let alone win at a home Games is just something I couldn't ignore.

Call it blind faith if you will but I still believe there's enough in my legs to achieve this goal. " Manx International Cycle Week – The Silent Ones “The Manx International was a big race in its own right, but for a Manxman it was something special. I was riding in the colours of the Manx Road Club but I was carrying the hopes of the Isle of Man…That day was one of the greatest moments of my life. Things like that stay with you forever; it’s the kind of moment that motivates you to make all the sacrifices you have to make to be a success in a sport a tough as cycling.” Steve Joughin on winning the Manx International Road Race in 1979 The Isle of Man’s hilly terrain makes it ideal for road racing and historically mass start road racing was always popular on the Island. The famous Motorcycle TT Mountain Circuit was perfect for cyclists and cycle racing began seriously on the course with the Bicycle TT in 1936. Competitors were known locally as ‘the silent ones’. The event evolved into Manx International Cycle Week, organised by Manx cycling legend Curwen Clague.

The event attracted thousands of enthusiasts to the Island who could get close to their cycling heroes and compete in their own fun rallies during the week. During its illustrious history the event attracted the top racing cyclists of Europe. In 1963 and 1967 England cycling legend Tommy Simpson was a popular winner. The Isle of Man International Road Race Meeting included the Manx International Road race, over three laps of the mountain circuit, the Viking Trophy Road Race over two laps, and high speed town centre Criteriums. The event even had its own ‘King of the Mountain’ sections. In 1979 the Manx International Road Race was won by local hero Steve Joughin, a highlight of his own successful professional cycling career. In 1993 Olympian and World Champion cyclist Chris Boardman set a blistering record time over the mountain of 1 hour 23 minutes and 54 seconds, a record that still stands. Manx International Cycling Week, including events run over the mountain circuit, continued until 2003. Steve Joughin – The Pocket Rocket “Had I really just won the national title only a few hundred yards from where I grew up, and in front of all my family?

Winning the pro title was amazing enough, but to do it on the Isle of Man seemed too good to be true”. Steve Joughin, Pocket Rocket (2010) Steve ‘The Pocket Rocket’ Joughin is a former professional Manx road racing cyclist. He was the first Manxman ever to win the British professional road race title (twice); won stages at the prestigious Milk Race; represented the Isle of Man on two occasions at the Commonwealth Games; and became the first Manxman to win Manx International Cycle Week. He was a popular local hero, at a time when the Island was an important location for British road racing competitions. He was arguably one of the best UK riders of his generation, coming to prominence as a sprinter in the 1980s – the golden age of British cycle racing. His journey from the Isle of Man to popular British cycling success was hard fought, struggling to travel away to compete and to earn a living at the sport. Steve’s journey, like many from his generation, was not one of Olympic training programmes but gritty determination to succeed against the odds: “We didn’t have a World Class Performance Plan – we had what I called the ‘DHSS Performance Plan’.

At a time where there was mass unemployment in the UK, myself and many riders signed on the dole at the DHSS and claimed unemployment benefit in order to be able to pay the bills while we trained in the hope of getting a pro-contract…When money was really tight, I would play hide and seek on boats bound for England and stowaway on board to save paying the fare so I could race.” Steve Joughin, Pocket Rocket (2010) Steve, now living in Stoke and running his cycle business, Pro-Vision, is still influential on the British cycling scene. Millie Robinson Millie Robinson took up cycling after moving to the Isle of Man in her late teens and started competitive cycling at local grass track events such as the Andreas Sports. As a member of the Manx Viking Wheelers she won the Women’s National 25 mile time trial championships three years in succession during the mid-1950s and was the British best all-rounder over 25, 50 and 100 miles. She won numerous UK events, both time trials and mass starts, and events during Manx Cycle Week.

She was the winner of the first two international races ever promoted for women in France and broke three world records on the track in Milan, including the hour record. She retired from competitive cycling in 1960. Marie Morgan (formerly Purvis) “Aged 26 I thought, there must be more to life than just vegetating on the sofa, and so I got an old bike out of the shed and went out riding. I was so unfit that I could only do three miles at first, but it was a gradual progression from there.” Marie Morgan (formerly Purvis) is a true inspiration. As a latecomer to cycling she went on to achieve extraordinary success in her eight year career, becoming the Isle of Man’s most successful female cyclist to date. She was the British Women’s Road Race Champion five times; competed at four World Championships; was British National 10mile and 25 mile time trial champion; contested two Olympic Games and represented the Isle of Man at two Commonwealth Games. After disappointment at her first Commonwealth Games at Auckland she went on to lead the road race at the Victoria Games four years later, only to suffer mechanical problems which meant she finished in fourth place.

“I’d made the transition from local to national level very quickly, so when it came to my first Commonwealth Games I didn’t really know how good the standard was, and I got the shock of my life…within two laps I was dropped off the back. I didn’t realise how hard the next level was. But I remember thinking I have a starting point now, I know what I have to do to get there. Train harder, race more. It made me more determined…within two years I’d been selected for the Barcelona Olympics.” She made an impressive debut at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Road Race, attacking early and leading the race until a slow puncture and mechanic crew confusion cost her a winning position. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics she finished in an impressive eleventh place. Marie was also the first British woman to win a mountain stage of the Tour de Femmin (the female Tour de France) in 1993 and finished sixth overall at this prestigious event. Stuart Slack – First Commonwealth Medallist: Stuart Slack was actively involved in Manx cycling for over fifty years, until his death in 1998.

The former Ellan Vannin Club rider was well known by many on the Isle of Man for his Commonwealth Games glory. He won the Bronze medal for the 120 mile road race at the 1958 British Empire & Commonwealth Games, becoming the first Manxman to win a medal at any Commonwealth Games competition. “…his amazing finishing spurt after a gruelling race run in terrible weather, heavy rain and a high wind, had his team mates and officials in a frenzy of excitement as he burst through to achieve what seemed the impossible.” Isle of Man Weekly Times, 28 July 1958 The Isle of Man welcomed Stuart, and the team, back to the Island as national heroes and his success has inspired future generations of young cyclists to attempt to follow in his wheeltracks. His success also spurred the Isle of Man to send a team to compete at every subsequent Commonwealth Games, buoyed with confidence that our small nation can achieve at world class level. “Stuart Slack was a local boy, a local hero, his victory did so much to encourage cycling over here.

Within a few years of his victory the Onchan Stadium opened with a cycle track around the outside and cycling on the Isle of Man has gone from strength to strength ever since.” Brian Whitehead, Commonwealth Games Athlete Many thanks to Manx National Heritage (MNH), Peter Kennaugh Senior, Jean Slack, Reg Quayle, Diana Killy and Marie Morgan for giving permission to use their photos above. Curwen Clague Manx sporting hero Curwen Clague can be credited with developing International Cycle Week and founding the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games team. He was a founder member of the Manx Viking Wheelers in 1932 and helped organise the Bicycle TT in 1936. Massed start cycle races were unheard of in the UK at that time, but the event was a great success and continued as International Cycle week until 2003. He was appointed as an official for the Olympic Cycle Road Race at the 1948 Olympic Games in London. Curwen’s contribution to cycling was recognised in 1976 when he was awarded the Gold Badge of Honour by the British Cycling Federation, their highest accolade. Curwen also played a vital role in the formation of the Manx Commonwealth Games Team.

After watching the Empire Games in 1954 he drew together the leaders of the various sports on the Island and suggested the Isle of Man could form its own Commonwealth Games team, which went on to compete successfully in the 1958 Games. From 1962 until his death, Curwen was the manager of the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Team, and was responsible for representing the Isle of Man at the highest level of the Commonwealth Games Association. Cycling Roots The success of Manx cyclists on the world stage has meant that the sport is hugely popular on the Isle of Man, especially on a junior level. The Isle of Man Junior Cycling Summer League sees over 300 under-16’s compete in organised weekly races at the National Sports Centre (NSC) in Douglas and also organises trips to the UK to compete. Dot Tilbury MBE, who organises the junior league, has been admitted to the British Cycling Hall of Fame for her enthusiastic work with junior cyclists over the past 25 years. The ‘Tuesday Night’ sessions are where all our famous cyclists first fell in love with cycling. “One second, two seconds, ready, steady, GO!

and two minutes later, I’d finished the course – a single lap of the NSC car park – in last place. Dead last. In my first race.” Mark Cavendish, Boy Racer (2010) At the age of 16 talented young cyclists are further developed by former professional rider Mike Doyle. Both Dot and Mike believe that having the opportunity to compete off Island, at both track and road events, is crucial to the development of our young cyclists. It enables them to improve their performance through competing alongside the best of British talent. The Isle of Man has a highly successful road race league at which amateur cyclists often line up against our professional cyclists who return to the Island to train, another factor in our success at cycling. There is certainly a structure in place on the Isle of Man for young cycling talent to develop their full potential, but it also requires immense dedication from the individuals involved. The Isle of Man may be a unique place with a unique set of circumstances, but without the dedication to get out and train for hours every day in all weather there would be no cycling champions.

International Cycle Week ca 1950s (© MNH) Highland Games, Onchan Stadium, 1967 Tom Kennaugh 1912 Mark Cavendish cycling sunglasses : Oakley Athletes : Oakley at Sunglasses Shop Born: 21st May 1985 in Douglas, Isle of Man, UK Bursting Onto The Scene... Mark Cavendish is known as the fastest man on two wheels. He's also the fieriest man in cycling. The Manxman became the star of the European road sprinting scene in 2007, when he rode his first full season. With 11 wins, his was the most successful professional debut in European road racing history and equalling the record held by Alessandro Petacchi. Oakley athlete Cav won the prestigious points jersey in five major races and, most impressively of all, beat some of the established legends of road sprinting, such as Petacchi, Erik Zabel and Robbie McEwen. Cavendish was originally a track cyclist in the Madison, points race and scratch race. He was dominant on the boards too – becoming a double Madison World Champion and winning gold at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

However, Cav switched his priorities to road racing in 2006. THE MAKING OF A LEGEND... He won four stages at the 2008 Tour de France – a then-unprecedented achievement for a British cyclist. Mark soon surpassed this feat by winning six stages in 2009 gaining him the title of the fastest sprinter in the world. He continued his wins in 2009 by taking the Spring classic, Milan-Sanremo. Victory in the 2011 points classification at the Tour de France is arguably the highlight of the Manx rider's career. He won five stages at the prestigious race. Before that, he also collected two wins at the Giro d'Italia earlier that season. Mark was even crowned world champion in 2011. After moving to Omega-PharmaQuickStep (now Etixx-QuickStep) from Team Sky, success has followed him. And Cavendish collected his second Grand Tour points jersey at the 2013 Giro. Cavendish will race for Dimension Data in 2016. Mark Cavendish © Oakley Favourite Frame Oakley called upon Cav to help create these sports sunglasses.

They were even wind tunnel tested too. So they're certainly ready for the road... Did You Know?: Cavendish has 26 stage wins at the Tour de France. Only five-time yellow jersey winners Bernard Hinault (28) and Eddie Merckx (34) have won more. Oakley Jawbreaker Cycling Sunglasses Career Highlights Teams: Team Sparkasse (2006), Team Colombia/HTC-Highroad (2007-11), Team Sky (2012), Omega Pharma-QuickStep/Etixx-QuickStep (2013-15), Dimension Data (2016-) Major Palmares Mark has 132 professional wins.

Among them are: 25 stage wins at the Tour de France (2013/2012/2011/2010/2009/2008) 15 stage wins at the Giro d'Italia (2013/2012/2011/2009/2008) 3 stage wins at la vuelta a Espana (2010) 2015 1st (points classification), Tour of California, winning stages 1, 2, 5 and 8 2015 1st (points classification), Tour of Turkey, winning stages 1, 2 and 7 2015 1st (points classification), Dubai Tour 2014 1st (points classification), Tour de Poutiou-Charentes, winning stages 1 and 2 2014 1st (points classification), Tour of Turkey, winning stages 1, 2, 4 and 8 2013 1st (points classification), Giro d'Italia, winning stages 1, 6, 12

, 13, 21 2013 1st (points classification), Tour of Qatar 2012 2nd (points classification), Giro d'Italia, winning stages 2, 5 and 13 2011 1st (points classification), Tour de France, winning stages 1, 7, 11, 15 and 21 2010 1st (points classification), Vuelta a Espana, winning stages 12, 13 and 18 2010 2nd (points classification), Tour de France, winning stages 5, 6, 11, 18 and 20 2009 2nd (points classification), Tour de France, winning stages 2, 3, 10, 11, 19 and 21 2008 1st (points classification), Tour of Missouri, winning stages 1, 2 and 6 2007 1st (points classification), Four Days of Dunkirk, winning stages 3 and 6 2007 1st (points classification

), Post Danmark Rundt, winning stage 6 2006 1st (points classification), Tour of Britain General Classification/One Day Races 2015 1st (overall), Clasica de Almeria 2015 1st (overall), Dubai Tour, winning stages 1 and 4 2013 1st (overall), British National Road Race Championships 2013 1st (overall), Tour of Qatar, winning stages 3, 4, 5 and 6 2012 1st (overall), Ster ZLM Toer GP Jan van Heeswijk 2012 1st (overall), Kurrne-Bruxelles-Kuurne 2011 1st (overall), UCI Road World Championships, Road Race, Copenhagen, Denmark 2011 1st (overall), London-Surrey Cycle Classic 2011 1st (overall), Scheldeprijs 2009 1st (overall), Sparkassen Giro 2009 1st (overall), Milan-Sanremo Cycling: Mark Cavendish criticises

 Britain's Olympic obsession | Sport | The Guardian Mark Cavendish criticises Britain's Olympic obsession • Cavendish stood out in Beijing as the cyclist without a medal • Sprint specialist vowed to give up track cycling but has returned British cyclist Mark Cavendish says people place too much importance on the Olympics.

Photograph: Denis Balibouse/Reuters Monday 4 May 2009 18.12 EDT First published on Monday 4 May 2009 18.12 EDT Share on Messenger Close Mark Cavendish , the only member of Great Britain's track cycling team to return from the Beijing Olympics without a medal, has criticised the nation's obsession with the Games. The 23-year-old from the Isle of Man entered the Beijing Games as madison world champion alongside Bradley Wiggins but the pair's earlier exertions in 2008 took their toll as they finished a lowly ninth. Cavendish had won four Tour de France stages in July and Wiggins had already won gold medals in the individual and team pursuit at the Laoshan Velodrome. "There's a lot of people that didn't win a medal," said Cavendish, who will start Saturday's Giro d'Italia. "It's what I sacrificed to go there that hurt the most," he told the BBC's Inside Sport programme. "For me the Olympics is not even in the top 10 of what you can achieve.

It is quite important as a British person, not necessarily as a cyclist." Cavendish's triumph in this year's Milan-San Remo Classic on 21 March confirmed his standing as road racing's quickest sprinter and this summer he will be among the favourites for the Tour de France's fabled green jersey, which is awarded to the points or sprint champion. As well as his eight victories in 2009, Cavendish also clinched the overall sprint victory in the Tour of California. "This year already I've won six or seven races – if you asked a cycling enthusiast, they would say it overshadows what the Olympics is for an endurance rider," he said. "But you ask the average member of the public in Britain and they'll look at you like you're mad." Following the Games in Beijing Cavendish vowed his track days, which yielded world championship madison titles in 2005 and 2008, were "finished". But he returned to the velodrome at the track world championships in Poland in March and is set to seek madison gold in London 2012 alongside Peter Kennaugh.

Oakley - Men's & Women's Sunglasses, Goggles, & Apparel GB Biography Mark Cavendish, a Brit from Isle of Man, is a professional road cyclist who rides for Etixx-Quick-Step. What you see is what you get with Cavendish – his fiery, yet professional approach is what makes him the world-class athlete that he is. He is rarely out of the limelight or headlines for long. Originally a track cyclist in the Madison, Points race and Scratch race, Cavendish has competed on the road since 2006. He is a double Madison World Champion and Commonwealth Games gold medalist on the track. He has won 25 Tour de France stages during his career. Cavendish achieved eleven wins in his first professional season, equaling the record held by Alessandro Petacchi. In the 2008 Tour de France he won four stages, a then unprecedented achievement for a British cyclist. Then he surpassed this feat by winning six stages in 2009. He has since been described as the fastest sprinter in the world.

Cavendish recorded his 100th career stage win at the 2013 Giro d’Italia and his 25th career Tour de France stage win at the 2013 race. Known as the Manx Missile, Cavendish is one of the most exciting figures in road cycling and will be for years to come. Career Highlights 26x Tour de France Individual Stage Winner 15x Giro d'Italia Individual Stage Winner 3x Grote Scheldeprijs Winner 2x Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne Winner 2013 – Giro d'Italia Points Classification Winner 2011 – UCI Road Race World Champion 2011 – Tour de France Points Classification Winner 2010 – Vuelta a España Points Classification Winner 2009 – Milan–Sanremo Winner BBC - Mark Cavendish to star in Tour de France documentary Mark Cavendish to star in Tour de France documentary Advertisement Watch the trailer for Chasing Legends courtesy of Arts Alliance Media Ltd Isle of Man cyclist Mark Cavendish is set to appear in a documentary about the Tour de France.

Shot in 2009, 'Chasing Legends' follows the Manx sprinter and his HTC-Columbia team from the Monaco Prologue all the way to Paris. Narrated by Phil Liggett, it features some of the biggest names in the sport, including five-time winner Eddy Merckx and seven-time winner Lance Armstrong. The Premiere will be held at London's 02 Cinema on Thursday 21 October. The film documents the intense physical and mental challenge of what is considered the ultimate cycling challenge. Cavendish sprinted to six stage wins at Tour de France in 2009 Director, Jason Berry said: "I'm very excited at the collaborative effort that made this event happen and look forward to the world seeing deeper into the Tour than ever before". Following the screening Cavendish will take part in a live Q&A alongside HTC-Columbia team member Bernie Eisel, team manager Rolf Aldag and sporting director Brian Holm. The film will not be screened in the Isle of Man. In 2009, Cavendish won six stages including his demolition of the field on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

The route for the 2011 route was announced on Tuesday and with several steep climbs littering the traditionally flat stages it may not suit the Manxman. Bookmark with: Tour de France 2009 – Stage 21 Final Results – Alberto Contador Wins his Second Tour de France, Cavendish Crushes the Sprint to get his Sixth Stage Win | Road Bike News, Reviews, and Photos Tour de France 2009 – Stage 21 Final Results – Alberto Contador Wins his Second Tour de France, Cavendish Crushes the Sprint to get his Sixth Stage Win By Thien Dinh July 26, 2009 Feature Articles Tour de France Astana’s Alberto Contador of Spain picked up his second Tour de France win today as Mark Cavendish the Brit from Team Columbia – HTC crushed the sprint to win his 6th stage of the tour. Lance Armstrong who announced he will be riding for new American team, RadioShack next year finished on the podium as well in third place.

Stage 21 Results 1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia – HTC - 4:02:18 2 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Team Columbia – HTC 3 Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin – Slipstream 4 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram 5 Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) Française des Jeux 6 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 7 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 8 Marco Bandiera (Ita) Lampre – NGC 9 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas 10 William Bonnet (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom Final General classification 1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 85:48:35 2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:04:11 3 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana - 0:05:24 4 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin – Slipstream - 0:06:01 5 Fränk Schleck

 (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:06:04 6 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0:06:42 7 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 0:07:35 8 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin – Slipstream - 0:12:04 9 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas - 0:14:16 10 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux - 0:14:25 “Cavendish celebrates with number six on the Champs-Élysées Contador crowned king of the Tour with overall win Alberto Contador (Astana) says he cares not for records, but in taking victory in each of the last four Grand Tours he’s ridden, top-and-tailing with the 2007 and 2009 Tours de France and the 2008 Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España in between, he’s set a record of his own.

After 3,459.5 kilometres, the maillot jaune crossed Paris’ world-famous boulevard of the Champs Élysées with arms hoisted high, and with each hand, two fingers raised. That’s right, Alberto, you’ve done it again.” Read more from CyclingNews … “Cavendish hails ‘beautiful’ sixth win By Ryland James (AFP) PARIS — Britain’s Mark Cavendish hailed his sixth stage win from this year’s Tour de France “beautiful” after powering his way to a stunning victory on the world famous Champs Elysees here on Sunday. In doing so the Isle of Man-born rider became the first Tour rider in the post-War era to win six stages from a sprint in one edition of the Tour. And that more than made amends for Cavendish missing out on the sprinter’s green jersey for the points competition. Despite Cavendish’s winning ride in the shadow of the Arc de Triomphe, Cervelo’s Thor Hushovd won the green jersey with 280pts against Cavendish’s 270.

A superb lead-out from Columbia team-mate Mark Renshaw gave Cavendish a clear run to the line as he left both Hushovd and Garmin sprinter Tyler Farrar behind.” Read more from the AFP … “Defiant Contador wins the Tour his way By Justin Davis (AFP) PARIS — Newly-crowned Tour de France champion Alberto Contador showed more than impressive climbing and time trialling skills on his way to victory in this year’s race. The 26-year-old Spaniard belied his unassuming nature to show nerves of steel in the face of a formidable teammate, Lance Armstrong, whose reputation struck fear into rivals during his seven-year reign on the race. Racing for the same team, Astana, the collaboration of the Texan and the Spanish young gun who has won all three major Tours was always going to create sparks. “It wasn’t really a compatible situation,” Contador admitted on Saturday.

“I knew he was coming here to win, but so was I.”” Read more from the AFP … “Sprinter Cavendish fulfils Paris ambition in style PARIS (Reuters) – Britain’s Mark Cavendish fulfilled his ambition of reaching the end of the Tour de France in Paris and crowned the moment by winning the final sprint on the Champs-Elysees on Sunday. Perfectly set up by Australian team mate Mark Renshaw, who took second, Cavendish was in a class of his own for his sixth stage victory on this Tour. “It’s amazing you know. All along I said I wanted to go all the way to Paris and my team was so great in helping me do it,” Cavendish told reporters. “Six victories including the Champs-Elysees. All my dreams come true,” he said.” Read more from Reuters … “Armstrong more human in third place By JOHN LEICESTER (AP) PARIS — Well, well, there’s a sight you don’t see every day at the Tour de France: Lance Armstrong on the podium in Paris without — hold the presses — the race winner’s garish yellow jersey on his back. Third.

Not a result, in pure sporting terms, that ranks up there with the seven consecutive times he claimed the victor’s laurels on the crowd-lined Champs-Elysees, framed by the Arc de Triomphe in the background. But how much more human. Armstrong suffered on this Tour, the pain and effort etched into his craggy face. Like a wily fox, he used years of accumulated race smarts to compensate for what his 37-year-old body has lost in speed and resilience; a few seconds saved here, a few more clawed back there.” Read more from the AP … “Armstrong prefers Team Radioshack to Contador By Ryland James (AFP) PARIS, France — Lance Armstrong admitted on Sunday he did not celebrate teammate Alberto Contador’s Tour de France triumph, preferring instead to go for drinks with the backers of his future outfit, Team Radioshack. The 37-year-old finished third overall after Sunday’s 21st and final stage at 5:24 behind Contador who built an unassailable lead after Saturday’s climb up to Mont Ventoux and rode to Paris in the yellow jersey.

But rather than dine with his Astana team-mates on Saturday night to celebrate Contador’s victory, seven-time champion Armstrong said he dined elsewhere. “To be honest, I went out for dinner with the Radioshack guys and I had a few extra glasses of wine than I would have normally done,” said Armstrong when asked about Astana’s celebrations after the team won the yellow jersey.” Read more from the AFP … BBC Sport - Jenson Button and Tom Daley on Laureus Awards shortlist Jenson Button and Tom Daley on Laureus Awards shortlist Daley was barely 15 when winning the 10m world platform title World champions Jenson Button, Tom Daley and Mark Cavendish will battle it out in the breakthrough of the year category of the Laureus Sports Awards. They are joined by three other Britons to be nominated in other areas. Jessica Ennis is on the world comeback of the year shortlist, while F1's Brawn GP - now owned by Mercedes - are in the world team of the year running. Stunt cyclist Danny MacAskill, who is up for the action sports award, makes up the list of British nominations.

Button won his maiden F1 world title last year with Brawn GP in his 11th year of grands prix while sprint specialist Cavendish, from the Isle of Man, won six stages of the 2009 Tour de France. Daley became the nation's youngest world champion when he shocked the diving world to claim the 10m platform title at the World Championships in Rome last summer just two months after his 15th birthday. 606: DEBATE Devon's most famous teenager is trialling a new "twister" dive Mark A - BBC Sport The trio are up against tennis player Juan Martin del Potro, who won last year's US Open, golfer Ji Yai Shin, the US LPGA Tour rookie of the year, and VFL Wolfsburg, winners of the Bundesliga. Ennis returned from the foot injury which ruled her out of the Beijing Olympic Games to win the heptathlon title at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin last summer.

The Sheffield athlete faces opposition from the likes of fellow athlete Blanka Vlasic, who won the high jump in Berlin, Lance Armstrong, third in the Tour de France after a four-year sojourn aged 37, and Kim Clijsters, the Belgian mother coming out of retirement to claim the US Open tennis title. Roger Federer and Usain Bolt are among those nominated for world sportsman of the year. Two swimmers, Federica Pellegrini and Britta Steffen, are on the shortlist for world sportswoman. Bookmark with:

Question: What is the name of the cyclist from the Isle of Man who won six stages in the 2009 Tour de France?
Answer: Mark Cavendish